Campus Departments Honoring Eating Disorder Awareness Week With Collaborative Events

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Eating Disorder Awareness Week is Feb. 26 through March 3, 2024.

As many as 28.8 million people in the U.S. will have an eating disorder in their lifetime, and 22% of children and adolescents worldwide show disordered eating, according to the National Eating Disorders Association. Next week, Feb. 26 to March 3, is Eating Disorder Awareness Week. 

Eating disorder awareness is important because so many people suffer silently while it can have grave physical, mental and social implications. "Dismantling diet culture and embracing body diversity may feel like an uphill battle thanks to social media, but it's important for us to help people reclaim health and body trust," said Dr. Debbie Deere, health center physician and member of the health center's eating disorder treatment team.  

To help bring awareness about eating disorders to the campus community, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), the Pat Walker Health Center's eating disorder treatment team and University Recreation's UARK Wellness are hosting events throughout the week. 

"There's so much misinformation out there about what aspects of our bodies and our health we can control, and we're trying to help our community learn how to recognize diet culture and some of the harm it causes," Dr. Deere said. 

On Monday, Feb. 26, UARK Wellness and CAPS will host a Self-Love Tea Party from 4 to 6 p.m in the Wellness Lounge, room 2132, of the Pat Walker Health Center. There will be tea, love letters, a photo booth, a button making station and coloring sheets available at the event.  

"We want to provide students with a space to connect with other people who are interested in and support self-love and body positivity," said Sarah Werner, wellness coordinator for University Recreation. "It was important to me, not just to bring these conversations to campus, but to partner with CAPS and the PWHC eating disorder treatment team to make sure we are being mindful of how we have these conversations, so students feel supported and cared for," Werner said.  

On Wednesday, Feb. 28, CAPS and PWHC's eating disorder treatment team will host an informational session, Let's Talk: Body Image in College, from 4 to 5 p.m. in HLTH 1118. The panelists, made up of a mental health clinician, a physician and a registered dietitian, will talk about eating disorders, body image, body dysmorphia, eating habits and more. Students are encouraged to submit their questions in advance, and the panelists will addrss them during the live event. Refreshments will be provided for those that attend, and registration on HogSync is limited to 50 participants.  

"Eating disorders and disordered eating are prevalent amongst college students," said Cassidy Mansur, CAPS counselor and lead mental health clinician for the health center's eating disorder treatment team. "Learning about the early warning signs of eating disorders, such as preoccupation with one's body shape or size, frequent dieting or body checking, difficulties sleeping or concentrating, can be beneficial in helping students seek out care for eating concerns," Mansur said.  

On Friday, March 1, CAPS, PWHC's eating disorder treatment team and UARK Wellness will host a Eating Disorder Awareness Week: Outreach Event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Union's International Connections Lounge, along with other campus partners. The event is all about positivity and self-love, and there will be activities, resources, refreshments, and flowers provided for all that stop by the event. 

For anyone who may be struggling with an eating disorder, Pat Walker Health Center can help provide or locate support so that you do not have to try to do this work alone. The National Eating Disorders Association has a helpline that you can call (1-800-931-2237), and it is available Monday-Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET and Friday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.